Apparatus for onward movement in swimming attitude in the water



April 3, 1928. 1,664,799

R. P. VAN ALPHEN APPARATUS FOR 01mm) uovmmi'r IN swnmme ATTITUDE IN THEWATER Filed April 11. 1927 Patented Apr. 3, 1928. I v r I I i UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLF I'IETER VAN ALPHEN, F THE-HAGUE, NETHERLANDS.

APPARATUS FOR ONWARD MOVEMENT IN SWIMMING ATTITUDE IN THE WATER.

Application filed April 11, 1927, Serial No. 182,936, and in theNetherlands March 30, 1926.

The invention relates to an apparatus for In the back part 2 a propellershaft 9 with onward movement in swimming attitude in propeller- 10 isrotatably arranged. The prothe water by the aid of a propelling devicepeller shalt 9 is connected by a bevel gear 40 to be driven by the feet.7 ll, 12 with a cross shaft on which cranks 13.

T he invention contemplates simplification with pedals l t arepositioned. These pedals of devices of this character by arranging arewithin reach of the feet of the swimmer, various parts as floatingmembers to obtain so that the propeller can be driven by the aneliicient distribution of the floating power same. I 45 and to avoid useof separate floats. At the top of the part 2 a plane 15 is ar-' Theseadvantages are obtained according ranged which during movement of theapto the present invention by using a vertical paratus in the waterprevents this part from floating plane and two horizontal floatingbeingdrawn downwardly. planes arranged on the upper edges of the Thesupport 4 and the plane are prefer- 60 same, one of which serves forsupporting the ably constructed so that they supply the nec- 15 upperpart of the body, the other extending essary buoyancy for the apparatus.

above the feet. I claim: e p

T 0 these floating planes the propelling and In a device of thecharacter described, two steering devices as well as means forturlongitudinally adjustable vertical sections of 66 ther support forthe body are arranged. small width in comparison to their height,

The drawing discloses aside view of an a substantially flat horizontalbuoyant secapparatus constructed in accordance with tion on one of saidvertical sections for supthe invention. porting the body portion of aswimmer, a

The apparatus comprises a flat body, consubstantially flat horizontalbuoyant section 60 sisting of two parts 1 and 2 preferably floaton thesecond vertical section, a propeller ing verticallyon the water. The onepart is o nt d i th -ear end of said second vertislidably attached tothe other and can be ad ti ll bl means f justably positioned by the aidof a screw tating said propeller to cause movement of with winged nut 3.said device. and a manually controlled rud- 65 Th for m pa t 1 is D Vwith 3 der adjacent the front end ofsaid first versupport 4 with bentupper surface on which ti 1 ti th l ngitudi al adjustment of the body ofthe swimmer rests, and with a said vertical sections permittingadjustment support 5 for the chin. At the front averto the requirementsof the individual swimtical shaft 6 is arranged rotatably. carryingIner. below the part 1 a rudder blade 7 the top In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature.

being provided with a crossbar 8 which is within the reach of the handsand therefore I RUDQLF PIETER VAN ALPHEN, may serve for turning therudder.

